The two policy briefs, Access to Health and Social Services and Impacts of the Physical Environment, are based on the findings from our qualitative research work with newcomer immigrants of St. James Town.  The briefs provide suggestions for the government to invest in and enhance immigrant integration and to support better health and wellbeing of newcomer immigrants.

Report: Exploring the Link Between Neighbourhood and Newcomer Immigrant Health

Policy Brief: Availability and Access to Health and Social Services

Policy Brief: Impacts of the Physical Environment on Health and Wellbeing

Special thanks to the members of the St. James Town Initiat’ve’s community action group and partner grassroots organizations for their assistance with recruitment.  We would also like to thank the participants who were gracious enough to give their time and inputs to the project.

Abstract: This inquiry successfully sequenced and integrated 2 participatory research methods: Photovoice and concept mapping.  In the Photovoice phase, immigrant residents shared perceptions and thoughts of their neighbourhood through photographs and stories, capturing neighbourhood characteristics that influence their health and well-being.  In the concept mapping phase, active involvement of immigrant residents was facilitated to systematically organize and build consensus around the wide range of neighbourohod factors identified from the Photovoice work.  The combination of these 2 participatory methods resulted in a conceptual framework of factors influencing immigrants’ health and well-being, whereas the photographs with captions facilitated interpretation and action at multiple levels.

Download the Concept Mapping of Photovoices report here.

Click to view the job post for more information about the job and how to qualify!

Youth Health Navigator Job Post

To apply: send resume and cover letter to the “Summer Hiring Committee” at info@kidsgrowing.ca.  The deadline is Tuesday June 8 at 5 pm for senior positions and Friday June 25 for junior positions.

Below are some of the pictures we took at the event.

The purpose of the meeting is to:

- Share the goals and objectives of the project

- Identify who else needs to be involved

- Determine key next steps and dates, and

- Discuss opportunities for resident participation

This is an invitation to community members to attend this event and keep informed of the process and join in leadership opportunities.

The Tower Renewal Project is committed to ensure that our meetings are accessible to as many as possible.  Please advise of any childcare, language and interpretation needs.  Kindly RSVP by calling the Tower Renewal Office at 416-397-5230 or email at adurzo@toronto.ca.  Please see the Event Flyer and Backgrounder for more information.

Rose Avenue Public School

675 Ontario Street

General Purpose Room (Small Gymnasium)

View the Meeting Notice here.

City Planning staff are starting a review and preparing a planning framework report for the area bounded by Bloor Street East, Howard Street, Sherbourne Street and Parliament Street.  This meeting will provide information about the planning framework, background information and an opportunity to identify key issues for the future planning of this area.  It is also an opportunity to express interest in participating in a future working group.

For more information, contact Allison Meistrich, Senior Planner, at 416-392-7363 or ameistr@toronto.ca.

The Story of Human Rights

“A striking short film defining one of the world’s most misunderstood subjects: human rights.”

Tuesdays from 5-8 pm and Saturdays from 2-5 pm (See poster for pool guidelines).

View the Report Back Invite here

The fate of nine school pools in Toronto remains unknown until February, but two pools — Jarvis Collegiate and Queen Alexandra — have found enough money to keep running.

The YMCA and RBC Foundation wanted to help keep the pools open in high-need areas. They teamed up to offer these two communities access to free recreational swimming for the past two months.

Each week, children, youth and their families came down to their school pool to enjoy a swim, keep fit and have fun. The pools were supervised by trained and certified YMCA lifeguards.

“I live right around the corner, so it’s great to get to come and hang out at the pool with my friends. If we couldn’t come here, we’d probably be at home watching TV. I hope we’ll get to keep coming,” said 11-year-old Erin.

Since the program was such a success in the community, the YMCA will begin offering swimming lessons and lifeguard training in February at both Jarvis Collegiate and Queen Alexandra.

- taken from http://www.ymcatoronto.org/en/whats-happening/free-swim-program.html

Throughout the course of the St James Town Initiative, residents have expressed several challenges that they face on a daily basis. Many of the neighbourhood’s issues can be solved by innovative and targeted policy interventions at all three levels of government.  The city, provincial, and federal governments all have important roles to play in the improvement of the community and in addressing the social determinants of health.  In a new series of policy briefs, the Wellesley Institute’s Matt Kanter analyzes specific challenges for residents of St James Town and sets out clear and achievable recommendations for policy action, listed below as policy briefs.

Integration of Concept Mapping and Photovoice:  Understanding Immigrant  Perceptions of Neighbourhood Influences on Health.

Policy Brief: Immigrant employment

Policy Brief: Language training

Policy Brief: The improvement of living conditions

The results of this study highlight the complementary nature of CBPR approaches, photovoice and concept mapping. The sequential integration of the results from the photovoice project with concept mapping extended the findings by systematically and rigorously building a consensus framework of health impacting factors in the St. James Town neighbourhood.

SJT Initiative’s Integration of Concept Mapping & Photovoice Report